Mass shootings in SA: Over 100 killed in a year of deadly attacks

At least 11 people were killed during a mass shooting on Tuesday night, after gunmen opened fire at a house party in KwaMakhutha, south of Durban.

The latest attack brings renewed attention to a string of high-casualty mass shootings across South Africa over the past year.

Police said three men entered a house in the Ziko area shortly before 23:00 and opened fire on 14 people. Ten victims, including a woman believed to be pregnant, died at the scene.

Four people were taken to hospital. One later died, while three others survived with injuries. No arrests had been made by Wednesday morning.

The motive for the attack has not yet been confirmed. However, SAPS said some of the victims were known to Crime Intelligence in connection with suspected illegal activities.

“Although the motive of the shooting cannot be confirmed yet, a feud between rival groupings cannot be ruled out,” police said.

Mass shooting attacks across South Africa

The KwaMakhutha shooting follows several other devastating attacks at taverns and residential properties that resulted in mass casualties.

In December, 12 people were killed and 13 injured when gunmen stormed an illegal tavern inside the Saulsville hostel in Pretoria.

Two weeks later, nine people were killed and 10 injured at a tavern in Bekkersdal. At the time, acting Gauteng Premier Jacob Mamabolo condemned the “escalation in mass shootings that have occurred in the province.”

In January, nine people were killed at a tavern in Marikana, Philippi East in Cape Town. Police and prosecutors later linked the case to alleged extortion.

Other high-casualty attacks occurred at a Bronkhorstspruit tavern, a house in Philippi East, a Mayville tavern in Durban and a residence in Kwadwesi, Gqeberha.

The incidents have also extended beyond taverns and homes.

In June, 13 people were eventually confirmed dead after gunmen opened fire across the Jumpers informal settlement in Cleveland, Johannesburg. Fourteen others were injured.

Western Cape police have separately raised concern over repeated mass shootings in Cape Town, while authorities in other provinces have also warned about illegal firearms, organised crime and gang violence.

The past year has also seen deadly shootings that aren’t linked to taverns and residential properties.

In January, three teachers were killed and another wounded when a former deputy principal opened fire at Ntabankulu Primary School in the Eastern Cape.

Cape Town has also experienced numerous mass shootings that police have described as suspected gang-related attacks. These include repeated incidents and drive-by shootings in Philippi East, Delft, Khayelitsha, Langa and other Cape Flats communities.

The incidents do not share a single confirmed motive. Police investigations have variously examined extortion, gang conflict, illegal mining, taxi violence and other forms of organised crime.

Mass shootings with four or more fatalities: 23 September 2025 – 23 September 2026

Date	Location	Setting	Killed	Injured
5 Oct 2025	Zithobeni, Bronkhorstspruit	Tavern	5	6
17 Oct 2025	Better Life, Philippi East	House	7	—
1 Nov 2025	Reiger Park, Boksburg	Drive-by/residential area	6	3
6 Dec 2025	Saulsville, Pretoria	Tavern/hostel	12	13
21 Dec 2025	Bekkersdal	Tavern	9	10
17 Jan 2026	Marikana, Philippi East	Tavern/shebeen	9	1+
7 Mar 2026	Marikana, Philippi East	Residential yard	4	1
15 Apr 2026	Delft	House	4	—
16 May 2026	Wesbank, Cape Town	Residential area	4	1
1, 2, 30 May 2026	Kanana, Orkney	Tavern (multiple incidents)	9	10+
6 Jun 2026	Kwadwesi, Gqeberha	House	4	2
9 Jun 2026	Jumpers, Cleveland	Informal settlement	13	14
8 Jul 2026	Philippi East	Residential area	4	3
26 Jul 2026	NY50, Gugulethu	House	5	1
26 Jul 2026	Kayamandi, Stellenbosch	Residential area	4	4
1 Aug 2026	Nyanga	Residential area	4	—
8 Aug 2026	Langa	House	5	—
22 Sep 2026	KwaMakhutha, Durban	House/house party	11	3